Ketchup and other things you thought were bad for you but are actually quite good

Break out the Tommy-K and don’t hold back on the lathering – because ketchup is good for you.

Yes, let’s thank the health experts who found that a daily dose of the red stuff significantly improves the functioning of blood vessels.

Condiment-conscious nerds at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust used patients with heart disease in a ground-breaking study that revealed powerful antioxidant in tomatoes may contribute to the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet.

Participants were each given a pill containing a supplement called Ateronon that has seven milligrams of the tomato ingredient lycopene (technical jargon).

No more shall we hold back on our ketchup servings (Picture: PA)

It revealed that those taking the pill every day for two months saw their blood vessels widen by 53 per cent.

Why so important? Constriction of blood vessels reduces blood flow and is one of the main factors that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

So next time you go food shopping, get that outrageously big ketchup bottle you thought was only reserved for the rotund.

And while you’re at it, buy a load of coffee, because that’s good for you too.

A study welcomed by the British Coffee Association recently found that increasing coffee consumption by more than one cup per day over a four year period lowered the risk of developing type two diabetes by 11 per cent. Apparently, two mugs one hour prior to a work-out can help us exercise harder and for 30 per cent longer.

Caffeine: it’s good for you too (Picture: File)

Full English I hear you say? Indeed. Starting the morning with a fatty meal may boost the metabolism for the rest of the day and prime the body to burn fat more efficiently.

Get stuck in first thing: Fry-ups are a healthy way to start the day according to researchers (Getty Images)